Workforce

Georgia will spend $125 million to send an additional 1,500 temporary workers to hospitals dealing with staffing shortages during the latest COVID-19 wave, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Aug. 16. 

In 4 1/2 months, the number of U.S. hospitals mandating COVID-19 vaccination for their workforce has gone from zero to 1,850.

Oregon and Tennessee are deploying National Guard members to support front-line hospital workers battling a COVID-19 surge fueled by the delta variant. 

U.S. companies, including those in software development, marketing, education and sales sectors, are increasingly including vaccination requirements in job postings, according to Indeed.

Sixty-two former Houston Methodist employees are alleging wrongful termination after they were fired for not complying with the organization's requirement for employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to ABC 13.

Louisiana public health and education officials are opening a child care assistance program for critical hospital workers in response to staffing shortages during the COVID-19 surge, the officials said Aug. 16.  

New York state is requiring healthcare workers to get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Sept. 27., Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Aug. 16.

Healthcare workers at two Samaritan Health Services hospitals have approved new union contracts, according to hospital and union statements. 

Staffing strains have affected hospitals and health systems across the U.S. amid the latest COVID-19 wave. Here are 10 numbers showing how workforce shortages affect hospitals, by state:

CommonSpirit Health is requiring full COVID-19 vaccination for its 150,000 employees, the Chicago-based health system said Aug. 12.